Jamboree contract cancelled

The Fort Scott Jamboree will no longer be at Memorial Hall.

During the June 15 meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission, commissioners voted to cancel the contract between the city and Shawn and Collette Pittman to host their country-style variety show at Memorial Hall, 1 E. Third St., on Saturday nights. The reason for the cancellation was cited as a failure to pay the rent on time, according to Fort Scott City Attorney Bob Farmer.

According to Fort Scott Director of Finance Susan Brown, the contract stated that the Pittmans would pay $150 per show held at the auditorium. Brown said that of the six payments made, only one was a full payment. The total amount to be paid to the city totaled $900. Before a notice was sent to the Pittmans, a total of $690 was paid, with the last payment coming April 12.

According to Brown, the city sent a letter to the Pittmans notifying them of their deficiency and to provide notice that the contract would be canceled if the balance was not paid. As a result of the letter, the city received a payment of $170 on May 7, bringing the balance to $40.

The Fort Scott Jamboree was started by the Pittmans in April 2009 to replace the void left when the owners of the Fort Scott Jubilee decided to stop their show. The show was successful through the end of 2009 before taking a little time off. The city decided to renew the one-year contract in January and the shows began again in March.

The Pittmans then decided, by request of the frequent attendees of the show, to host their show on a year-round basis. The shows then began again in January 2010.

Following a series of cancellations due to weather and a number of band problems, the Pittmans began to fall behind on their financial commitment to the city.

Multiple attempts by The Tribune to contact the Pittmans by telephone and e-mail were unsuccessful.